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Wade Phillips fired as Dallas Cowboys coach [Updated]

The Dallas Cowboys have fired head coach Wade Phillips, NFL.com reported on Monday.

The widely anticipated move, reported by various local Dallas outlets, followed a 45-7 pounding by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday that dropped the NFC East team to 1-7.

Phillips will be replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

[Updated at 1:04 p.m.: Following the thumping by the Packers for their fifth defeat in a row, Dallas owner Jerry Jones told reporters that big changes had to be made.

“There are a lot of people that certainly are going to suffer and suffer consequences,” said Jones, who had insisted during the club's slide this season that he would not change head coaches in midseason.

The Cowboys' skid this season was intensified by the loss of starting quarterback Tony Romo, who sustained a broken collarbone when he was sacked during a game with the New York Giants.

Asked after the Green Bay game what specific areas needed to be addressed in order for the team to turn the season around, Jones said: “I can't put my finger on it because I don't have enough fingers.”]